Pranav Kohli, CEO and Co-founder, Pickleball World Rankings addresses the audience at PWR World Tour launch.(L-R) Udai Singh – Co-founder and Director, Pickleball World Rankings | Ashish Khanna – Co-founder and Director, Pickleball World Rankings | Vineet Jain, MD, Times Group | Aditya Khanna – Co-founder and Director, Pickleball World Rankings| Pranav Kohli – CEO and Co-founder, Pickleball World Rankings.
Photo : Times Now
Pickleball is growing at a rapid pace, from its humble beginnings in the United States during the sixties to the launch of the Pickleball World Rankings (PWR), the sport is set to reach a larger audience. Pickleball now goes global with the launch of PWR, PWR World Series, and PWR World Tour in Dubai on Wednesday.
For the first time ever, USD 15 Million prize money will be awarded to the champion of the inaugural PWR World Tour. The maiden edition of the PWR World Series will take place at the GCC and a prize money of USD 1.5 million will be awarded to the champion.
Pranav Kohli, CEO and Founder of PWR said: “Pickleball originated from relatively humble beginnings in the backyards of America in the sixties, and has now become one of the most exciting sports enjoyed by millions around the world. It is with great honour to be part of the creation of Pickleball World Rankings, PWR World Series and PWR World Tour and we are delighted to be the team taking Pickleball to the next level both on and off the court.”
He continues, “We will be offering USD $15 Million in prize money for the PWR World Tour and USD $1.5 Million for the GCC stop in PWR World Series. This is the highest prize money ever offered in the sport! It is my hope that existing stars and the champions of the future from the United States and all around the world can rise through the rankings and reach their full potential, all in front of millions of followers globally.”
He concluded, “It is no coincidence that we selected the GCC as the location for this announcement and we are thrilled to confirm that our first PWR World Series – in a grand style will be hosted in the region. The ambition and visionary leadership within the region and the positive pace of societal change is in step with the growth of the sport and we are confident that the sport will enjoy a bright future here.”
Speaking on the occasion, Vineet Jain, Managing Director of The Times Group said: “The Times Group is proud to be an anchor investor in PWR, a path-breaking initiative that unifies the global pickleball community. Times Group is known for its innovation and its ability to be ahead of the curve in every one of its initiatives. We are happy that PWR is bringing the PWR Rankings, PWR tour and PWR World Series, and we really hope that this further accelerates growth of Pickleball globally. I personally believe that Pickleball will overtake Tennis in terms of participation in the near future. PWR is a platform that will empower players from every corner of the globe to compete, excel, and showcase their talents on an international stage.”
The sport of Pickleball has seen immense growth in the past few years, and with the launch of the new Pickleball World Rankings (PWR), the PWR World Series, and the PWR World Tour, the sport will reach new heights.
The GCC will host the first PWR World Series in March 2025, and the union of the Pickleball League Asia Private Limited and Times Group will help take the sport to a wider audience.
The Pickleball World Rankings will streamline the regional bodies under a consistent structure to ensure the sport can be governed properly and it comes at a time when the sport is already booming. Some of the world’s biggest names in Pickleball will be associated with PWR. The women’s world number 1 on APP Tour, Megan Fudge DeHeart, as well as Mitchell Hargreaves.
Some of the biggest celebrities, and entrepreneurs have played Pickleball in the past from Bill Gates, and Elon Musk, to Taylor Swift. In India too, Pickleball has a big fan base including the former Indian skipper MS Dhoni, Rishabh Pant, and Mithali Raj.
